Inside an Indiana aquafarming complex, thousands of salmon eggs grow—faster than normal. The eggs have been genetically modified. They will hatch into tiny fish and then mature more quickly than other farmed or wild salmon. “Genetically modified” means scientists have altered a gene in the organism’s DNA. In this case, the gene affects growth rate.

Once these fish reach about 10 pounds, they will be marketed to restaurants. That could happen as early as 2020.

The salmon are produced by a company called AquaBounty. They are the first genetically modified animals approved for human consumption in the United States. AquaBounty hasn’t yet sold any fish in the United States. But the company is targeting restaurants and university cafeterias for sales soon.

Some consumer advocacy groups call for caution regarding GMOs, or genetically modified organisms. They express concern that changing plant or animal DNA could have health consequences for people who consume them. Biologists working in genetic modification believe those concerns are unfounded. They say GMOs are necessary to feed the world’s growing population. The Genetic Literacy Project states that the world’s population will reach 10 billion by the year 2050. To meet corresponding food needs, agricultural production will need to double worldwide.

Currently, only a few GMO plant food products are sold in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Corn is the most common. But more than three-quarters of the GMO corn produced is used for livestock feed and ethanol for fuel. Soybeans follow closely after. Sugar beets, papaya, and Canadian-grown canola oil come next. The plants have been modified for various reasons: corn and sugar beets to grow larger and faster with a higher sugar content; soybeans to increase edible yield per plant; papaya to fight off a natural virus that kills the plant; and canola to resist chemical pesticide absorption.

AquaBounty’s salmon are modified with the intention of producing more food more quickly. To create the fast-growing salmon, AquaBounty techs injected Atlantic salmon with DNA from other fish species. They chose fish that naturally grow to full size in about 18 months. That’s twice the rate of regular salmon. The company says the process makes fish farming more efficient. Less feed is required as well as less time to produce more food.

The Canadian company worked for years to gain approval to grow and offer its fish in the United States. As AquaBounty acquired that clearance, several grocers including Kroger and Whole Foods vowed never to sell the fish.

The Center for Food Safety is suing the U.S. Food and Drug administration for approving distribution of AquaBounty salmon. Meanwhile, Greg Jaffe of the Center for Science in the Public Interest defends the decision. He believes grocers and restaurants should disclose when food products are genetically modified. But he doubts consumers, for the most part, will be concerned.

Agricultural Pioneer Norman Borlaug

Consider an individual’s life aspirations. What comes to mind as most valuable? Obviously, saving souls for eternal life with God would top the list. But after that, where would you rank saving people from starvation?

One man from the previous century is remembered for increasing food production. In 1970, Norman Borlaug received the Nobel Peace Prize. Borlaug studied plant diseases at the University of Minnesota during the Great Depression. At that time, many Americans were so poor they could not afford enough food to thrive.

World War II closely followed the Depression. It brought farm labor shortages and food rations. World population was still growing, and poor nations faced famine at alarming rates. America, though still recovering from its lean years, took a lead position in finding food solutions for more desperate nations.

It was out of that setting that Norman Borlaug’s ideas for improving farming methods took root. Borlaug proposed enhancing soils using chemical fertilizer. He claimed the same nutrients could be produced far more quickly in a lab than obtained through compost and manure. He explored breeding plant varieties to develop strains that resist diseases and yield greater volume. Modified seeds and modern techniques were shared in countries like Mexico, India, and Pakistan, where famine was averted.

His supporters say that Borlaug’s work saved millions upon millions of lives. For that, they call him a hero. But his critics say the gains were short-sighted. They claim Borlaug’s farming techniques depleted soil over the long term. High-yield plants use more water, which used up supply in drought-prone areas. His methods didn’t predict soil erosion and chemical run-off into essential waterways.

God’s word tells us to “multiply and fill the Earth,” (Genesis 1:28) “take dominion over the Earth,” (Genesis 1:26) and “love one’s neighbor as oneself.” (Matthew 22:39) Accomplishing all of those at once can be challenging. As it turns out, feeding a hungry world will take more than one man’s good ideas.

Slideshow

Salmon eggs are seen at the AquaBounty hatchery in Prince Edward Island, Canada. (AP)

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@ Loreleie E

Brenna G

Genetically modified foods are very bad for your body- wheat in the us is modified, which causes gluten allergies and intolerance. If someone with a gluten allergy went to, say, France, they would probably be able to eat wheat with no reaction, because it is not modified there.
Gmo salmon sounds not only disgusting, but also very unhealthy.

ZW

Ancient Watermelon

Why do so many people have a problem with genetic modification?
Humans have been modifying the genetic code of plants and animals for hundreds of years.
Almost nothing you eat is natural. An unmodified peach would be about 25mm tall with only 64% edible flesh, not to mention the skin would be waxy. A modern, genetically modified peach is 100mm tall, 90% edible flesh with soft edible skin. The unmodified equivalent of the bananas we eat now is almost unrecognizable. Corn today is 1000 times larger than corn 9000 years ago. Pure, wild carrot isn't even orange, and contains way less edible parts than a modern carrot. Eggplants used to have spikes on the stem, and they were way way smaller.
And it's not just foods that have been changed, almost all of our domesticated animals are incredibly specialized to provide what humans want. most wouldn't be able to survive in the wild by now.
Genetic modification isn't some big new evil designed to destroy our good organic foods like many people seem to think. As I said earlier, we have been doing this for hundreds of years to improve our lives. We are just using different, more advanced methods now. I hope everyone who intends to live "Non-GMO" lives are happy with peaches the size of cherries.

ZW

Gmo rice

Has anybody heard of golden rice? Golden rice is a genetically created variant of rice that has a much higher vitamin A content. It was created specifically to help the millions of people (mostly in Asia and Africa) who suffer from malnutrition. However, it was met with public outcry simply due to the fact it was GMO.
Does anyone want to preach about the "negative health effects" of GMO foods to the people who are literally dying of malnutrition?

Spider Goats

For instance did u know that a company genetically engineered goats to produce spider web instead of milk due to the fact that a strand of spider web as thick as ur thumb could lift a cargo jet! It worked just fine to! And the goats just lived on a farm like any other goats! Weird, right?

Interesting :)

Things being generically modified hasn't really had any studied bad effects on our bodies, yeah it might sound gross but it's pretty much completely safe. Adding extra chromosomes or something is kind of cool sounding in my opinion though. I'm in a high school biology class and we've learned about some of this stuff. It's super interesting!

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